The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Living_proof

I was just wondering what glitter was made from in my childhood before plastic was ubiquitous. Now I know:

Since prehistoric times, glitter has been made from many different materials including stones such as malachite, and mica, as well as insects and glass.

Who knew?

DigForVictory

Yes, what says "hey kids, let's have fun" more than scattering powdered insects & glass? That said Beaver scouts enjoy leaving a spectacular mess & if it's shiny better but just a mess will do. Truly glitter is an idea from the workshops of Beelzebub.

The joy of Spode is (as far as I know) china does not hold a smell. Carefully washed (ie gradually washed & warmed and watched for cracks until you can upend a boiled kettle over it) all should be well? Fingers crossed for you, un!

unrecordings

We opened out the box to stash it outside by the bins. Guess what.

Glitter...

Initial inspection is good apart from one item I'm getting refunded on Everything else passes the ping test. But yes, it doesn't hold a smell (being glazed therefore non absorbent)

unrecordings

Oh yes and we started on the twiglets while watching Rogue One this evening (nice to see Riz Ahmed in there) so need to get more of them now

thriftwizard

unrecordings wrote: »

Oh yes and we started on the twiglets while watching Rogue One this evening (nice to see Riz Ahmed in there) so need to get more of them now

Snap! Twiglets and Rogue One both...

DigForVictory

I ran out of alertness mid-way through Rogue One, despite enjoying it.
Clearly must try again With Twiglets....

DigForVictory

Hearing the screams up & down the lands as various washing machines are to be used for cold wash only (list here) I think I'm going to drop in on the launderette & ensure some of my cash stash is in appropriate currency units.

I reckon £20 in laundry change seems wholly harmless but an easy prep to sort. It may not be necessary but it means if I have to, I can & if family, friends, neighbours need a hand, I can swap coins for them.

I will also look out the smaller lock & locks so a reasonable amount of soap powder can be easily taken. I recall the vending machines being complete scalpers - a pound for a box that would do 2 washes!.

thriftwizard

Some years ago, whilst there were still 6 of us living here full-time, I invested in a hand-cranked caravan washing machine (new) & an elderly spin-dryer off Gumtree. Money well-spent! It's been a while since we've had to wait a couple of weeks for a washing-machine-wizard to appear & fettle the beastie, but they've been lent out up & down the street and once even to a friend across the river. Total expenditure was in the region of £75 and I reckon we've saved a fair bit more than that in launderette costs over the years, plus been able to lend a metaphorical hand to friends in need.

We also have a small Burco boiler, having done two Christmasses on the trot without hot water (except in the shower) and a number of alternative cooking arrangements. These have been out on loan regularly, too, but we ourselves have benefitted from the loan of things like hedge-trimmers & jump-leads when ours went missing. We're lucky enough to have some storage space to keep them in, but even luckier to have lovely neighbours.

I have a feeling that there'll be a queue for the loan of the "Village Laundry" equipment (as my neighbour calls it) for a while now...

jk0

I wouldn't be too concerned about those washing machines folks. (Though it is shocking the same firm are in trouble again.) Just make sure you can access the plug, have a smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, and don't run the thing overnight.

DigForVictory

Ordinarily I'd be absolutely alongside the pragmatic "you do what you must" & the balance of risk is reasonable.

My worry is for those with young families who just in the hubbub didn't realise little Sid was prodding it with a fork...

Mind you, after all the is this horse chestnut malarkey worth the faff (not really) I begin to slide towards the view that in case of desperation, run a bath, chuck in the clothes, have the toddlers march up & down (Not Jump) thereupon, remove & dry toddlers & confine in safe location, then do the heavy lifting (literally, alas) of hauling wet clothes out & wringing them & getting them into a drier.

When the machines are fixed or replaced or whatever, they may not be as taken for granted as they were!

I hadn't realised a hand cranked washing machine Was A Thing - just wow! Rousing cheers for the 'village laundry' & consequent peace of mind!